Child Safe Standards 5 & 6

At our school, keeping children safe is a shared responsibility. Child Safe Standards 5 & 6 focus on Equity & Respect for Diversity, and Suitable Staff & Volunteers available.

Child Safe Standards 5 & 6: Creating a Safe, Inclusive and Supportive School for Every Child

At our school, the safety and wellbeing of every child is at the heart of everything we do. Child Safe Standards 5 and 6 help ensure that all children feel safe, respected and supported, and that the adults who work with them are committed to maintaining a child-safe environment.

Child Safe Standard 5: Equity and Respect for Diversity

Child Safe Standard 5 focuses on ensuring that every child feels included and valued, regardless of their background, identity, culture, ability, gender, or life experiences. We recognise that children experience safety in different ways and may require different supports to fully participate and thrive at school.

This means creating learning environments, policies and practices that are inclusive, accessible and responsive to the diverse needs of our students and families. By listening to children and their families, removing barriers to participation and celebrating diversity, we help create a school culture where every child feels a sense of belonging and safety.

How families can support this at home:

• Encourage respectful conversations about diversity and inclusion.
• Celebrate your family's culture and learn about the cultures and experiences of others.
• Help children understand that everyone has different strengths, needs and perspectives.
• Model kindness, empathy and respect in everyday interactions.
• Encourage children to speak up if they see someone being excluded or treated unfairly.

Child Safe Standard 6: Suitable Staff and Volunteers

Child Safe Standard 6 focuses on ensuring that the adults who work and volunteer in our school are suitable, well-prepared and supported to keep children safe.

We prioritise child safety throughout our recruitment processes, including referee checks, background screening and Working with Children Checks where required. All staff and volunteers receive induction and ongoing training to ensure they understand their responsibilities for child safety, including reporting concerns, information sharing and maintaining appropriate records.

Child safety remains a focus throughout employment, with ongoing supervision, professional learning and support to ensure staff and volunteers continue to uphold the highest standards of care and wellbeing for our students.

How families can support this at home:

• Talk regularly with your child about safe and trusted adults in their lives.
• Encourage your child to share any worries, concerns or uncomfortable experiences.
• Remind children that they have the right to feel safe, respected and listened to.
• Support your child to seek help from a trusted adult if something does not feel right.
• Familiarise yourself with the school's child safety policies and procedures.

Together, these standards help us build a school community where every child feels safe, respected and supported to learn, grow and succeed. By working in partnership, schools and families can create consistent messages about safety, respect and inclusion for all children.

For families who would like to learn more about Child Safe Standards 5 and 6, we have included an information sheet with this newsletter.

https://www.smaltona.catholic.edu.au/source/MACS-Care-CSS-5-Parent-Carer-Newsletter-Final-PDF-May-2026%20(2).pdf

 https://www.smaltona.catholic.edu.au/source/MACS-Care-CSS-6-Parent-Carer-Newsletter-Final-PDF-May-2026%20(1).pdf    
  

Together, we all play a part in keeping children safe.